food and mood

we ofthen eat to calm down or cheer up when we're feelings stressed or depressed.

now new research suggests there's a reason: food changes out brain chemistry.
these changes powerfully influence our moods, but can certain foods really make us feel better? nutrition  experts say yes,
 but what should we eat and what should we avoid? here are the foods that work the best, as well as those that can make a bad day worse.

food and mood - we ofthen eat to calm down or cheer up when we're feelings stressed or depressed. (you have to read this great article)

Great Sides For Easy Lentil Soup

By Melissa Jones


Soups make a great meal for both comfort and the main course. There are many different types out there and many people struggle with what to put with them. There are great sides for an easy lentil soup that makes for a whole meal or a quick snack. Sides should be easy and delicious to enhance the whole experience. Nothing comforts more than a great soup and side.

Making a salad is easier than you might imagine. Restaurant quality salads are that way because they prepare it ahead of time. With a lettuce or spinach base, you can add the ingredients and have just as good a salad. Roasted walnuts and brown butter dressing along with red onions and croutons turn a salad into a delicious addition to any meal.

Potato puffs are a quick and easy snack. These are quick and easy because you can use leftover mashed potatoes. Add shredded cheese of your choice, bacon, chives, and serve with sour cream. Mix in a couple of eggs to help solidify the mixture and bake in a muffin tin to make cute little puffs. You can refrigerate or freeze for quick and easy snacks at any time.

Try your hand at roasted garlic broccoli. This is actually a nice healthy side that goes great with soups or a larger meal. Take frozen or fresh broccoli florets and drizzle them with both garlic powder and olive oil. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until they are done. They should be soft when you poke them with a fork. When you serve them, add some parmesan cheese to enhance them just a bit.

A quick addition is the pull-apart artisan cheese bread. Start with a round loaf of artisan bread and cut it in a crisscross type of pattern. Be sure to not cut all the way through or it will fall apart. Stuff cheese and spices in between the different cuts and put covered into the oven for about 20 minutes. Then take the cover off for an additional 10 minutes to help crisp it up and serve with any soup or just as a snack.

Pita chips are delicious and not hard to make. Take some pita bread and cut it into triangle shapes. Next, sprinkle some spices over them and finally brush with olive oil. They should be baked above 350 degrees to help them crisp up. You may want to flip them part way through the process to crisp both sides. When they're crispy they are done and ready to serve.

Another good side is toasted Naan bread. This is especially good with roasted red pepper hummus. If you're into baking, you can make the Naan bread yourself. The hummus can easily be made in a food processor with the right ingredients in just minutes. Cut the bread into rectangles or triangles and simply dip in the hummus. If you prefer, you can also dip it in your soup.

Snack, dinner, or comfort food times all require just a little bit of effort. With the right sides, you'll never want to go back to grabbing the greasy bag of chips. Homemade salads are fresh and easy to make. Other favorites that are simple are the toasted Naan, Pita, and other types of bread.




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